Fluid delivery system

Abstract

The high pressure water cleaning lance or apparatus has a main channel with a high velocity nozzle at one end and a water dumping channel provided with a dump valve. The apparatus also includes a trigger control valve mechanism which is operated to direct water under extremely high pressure to the nozzle. A removable quick release pin connects the valve housing to the trigger housing. Removal of the release pin permits the operator to remove the valve assembly including a valve pin from the valve housing for repair or replacement purposes. The apparatus includes a trigger actuating lever carried on one end by the trigger housing for actuating the valve pin. The trigger actuating mechanism or assembly includes a lip and a cam surface which are spaced apart and are selectably engageable with a pair of opposed surfaces provided on the head of the valve pin. The trigger assembly also features a manual shut-off feature. In the unlikely event that the valve sticks open, all the operator has to do is push the trigger forward to open the dump valve.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A high pressure water apparatus comprising: a high pressure main channel with a high pressure, high velocity blasting nozzle at the end, a water dumping channel with a low pressure outlet, a cross-channel connecting said main channel to said water dumping channel, valve means disposed within said cross-channel having an open position and a close position for controlling the flow of water therethrough, said valve means including an elongated cylinder having a bore extending from one end thereof to the other end, a plurality of openings located in the side wall of said cylinder between the ends thereof, a piston seat located in said bore adjacent said plurality of openings, a piston location in the bore of said cylinder and movable therein relative to said openings to open or close said cross-channel, said piston having a piston bore, an elongated pin having a head and a stem, with said stem movable in the bore of said piston to urge the piston against said piston seat to thereby block flow through said openings and close the flow of water through said cross-channel and said water dumping channel thereby permitting flow through said high pressure main channel and said nozzle, an actuating lever pivoted on one end thereof and including on said one end a lip and a cam surface which are spaced apart, said lip and said cam surface being engageable with a pair of opposed surfaces on said head, said actuating lever when moved in one direction urging said cam surface against one of the opposed surfaces on said head effective to move said pin and said piston against said piston seat to block flow through said cross channel and said water dumping channel, said actuating lever, in the event said valve means fail to open said openings and said cross-channel after said actuating lever is released, being manually operable when moved by the operator in the opposite direction to urge said lip against the other of said opposed surfaces on said head and thereby move said pin in a direction away from said piston seat, with said piston also moving away from said piston seat to open said openings, cross channel and said water dumping channel thereby directing the flow of water away from said high pressure main channel to said dumping channel.   
     
     
       2. A high pressure water apparatus comprising a trigger housing having a flat surface with an opening therein and including a handle for holding the apparatus, two pairs of spaced apart mounting lugs at the corners of said flat surface, a valve housing having upper and lower flat surfaces, with the lower flat surface of said valve housing seated on said flat surface of said trigger housing, said valve housing having a pair of mounting elements projecting from said valve housing into the spaces between aligned pairs of mounting lugs, said valve housing having an inlet port, an outlet port and a bypass port, an inlet conduit connected to said inlet port, an outlet conduit connected on one end thereof to said outlet port and having a high pressure, high velocity nozzle at the other end thereof, said inlet and outlet conduit forming a high pressure main channel, a water dumping tube assembly connected to said bypass port, a cross-channel connecting said main channel to said water dumping channel, valve means located in said cross-channel having an open position and a close position for controlling the flow of water therethrough, a trigger actuating lever pivotally carried on one end of said trigger housing for actuating said valve means, a pivot element extending through one of said pairs of spaced apart mounting lugs and the corresponding one of said pair of mounting elements to provide a pivot mounting for said trigger housing which opens and closes said valve housing, a removable quick release pin extending through the other of said pairs of spaced apart mounting lugs and the other of said pair of mounting elements when said flat surface of said trigger housing is seated against the lower flat surface of said valve housing to close said valve housing, and the removal of said release pin permitting said trigger housing to pivot approximately 90° about said pivot element and thereby move said flat surface of said trigger housing away from the lower flat surface of said valve housing to open said valve housing and thereby permit removal of said valve means from said valve housing for repair or replacement. 
     
     
       3. The high pressure water apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein a finger latch is resiliently carried by said trigger actuating lever for holding said trigger actuating lever against inadvertent actuation to open said valve means and thereby direct flow through said high pressure main channel and nozzle. 
     
     
       4. The high pressure water apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein said finger latch is unlatched by a finger on an operator's hand which grips said handle to permit the trigger actuating lever to be actuated to open said valve means and direct flow through said high pressure main channel and nozzle. 
     
     
       5. The high pressure water apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein a finger latch is provided with a pair of spaced apart arms, said trigger actuating lever extending between said arms, means for pivotally connecting said finger lever to said trigger actuating lever, and resilient means interposed between said levers for biasing said trigger actuating lever in a direction to hold it against inadvertent actuation. 
     
     
       6. The high pressure water apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein said trigger housing further includes an L-shaped trigger guard with a pair of end portions, having one end portion attached to the bottom of said handle and having the other end portion attached to said trigger housing. 
     
     
       7. The high pressure water apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein said trigger housing has a cavity, a gasket and a cover closing said cavity and through which said trigger actuating lever extends, said gasket assisting in preventing dirt and foreign particles for entering said cavity and interfering with said valve means. 
     
     
       8. The high pressure water apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein said valve means include an elongated cylinder in said cross-channel having a bore extending from one end thereof to the other end, a plurality of openings located in the side wall of said cylinder between the ends thereof, a piston seat located in said bore adjacent said plurality of openings, a piston located in the bore of said cylinder and movable therein relative to said openings to open or close said cross-channel, said piston having a piston bore, an elongated pin having a head and a stem, with said stem movable in the bore of said piston to urge the piston against said piston seat to thereby block flow through said openings and close the flow of water through said cross-channel and said water dumping channel thereby permitting flow through said high pressure main channel and said nozzle.